Thread: Stanley Bailey No 4 Plane - I just don't get it !

Make sure the cap iron and the blade are firmly screwed together. I've had that embarrasing moment.

Make sure the top of the adjuster yoke is engaging properly with the cap iron/chip breaker. Wind the adjuster in and out, the blade should move. You can check this without the lever cap in place.

Originally Posted by The Bleeder

Make sure the cap iron and the blade are firmly screwed together. I've had that embarrasing moment.

OK, that never occurred to me.........

The majority of old Stanleys work much better than new ones but that aside, check that the blade is seated on the frog properly.
The stirrup/yoke that 'straddles' the adjuster should protude through the blade and into the small hole in the cap iron. It then moves the cap iron and blade up and down as it is adjusted.
A photo would help.
The cap iron should be on the opposite side to the bevel but only 1mm or so from the edge. Not level with the top of the bevel. Pull the old one apart to see how it should be set up.

Originally Posted by Ozziespur

I am new to handplanes and have recently discovered their therapudic nature. However I have inherited 2 handplanes 1 brand new (still in the box) and one old and used. I have flattened the soles and sharpened the blades. For some reason the older plane is lighter simpler/basic in design and works quite well (this is a bevel down plane btw), whereas the Stanley doesn't seem to want to work. The main problem with the Stanley is that i cannot seem to adjust it. When i turn the adjusting nut the blade doesn't appear to move ? The adjusting lever moves and straddles the nut as it should but the blade is stationary. The plane iron cap is as per the instructions level with the top of the bevel and the lever cap snaps on as it's suppsed to ....

Any ideas ? I obviously have something wrong in my set up ...

Thanks in advance.

I had a new plane a few years ago that was equally frustrating. It was a cheapy and the parts just didn't mesh well.

Try taking the lever cap off and making sure the slot on the cap iron is properly seated on the end of the yoke (adjusting lever) such that the blade lies flat in the frog. Try turning the adjusting wheel with one hand without the lever cap on while you hold the blade assembly with your finger tips to get a feel for what is happening. If you can't get it to seat properly, it's possible the yoke is too big or the rectangular slot in the cap iron too small. Or maybe the yoke is poorly made and won't engage the cap iron. Compare with your good old plane. Buy likely, it just wasn't seated and you've fixed it by now.

I'll wind the adjusting nut when the cap is off as suggested and see how it goes.

Thanks for the feedback.

I'm at work now, so I'll check it out when i get home ..

Originally Posted by The Bleeder

Make sure the cap iron and the blade are firmly screwed together. I've had that embarrasing moment.

Had the same trouble with a 'handyman' plane. Got rid of it to someone who I knew wouldn't use it. Three years later it's still an ornament so I have a clear conscience, in that respect at least.
Cheers,
Jim

The end of the yoke goes in the square hole, but also check the round end of the lateral adjuster (left-right) is in the blade slot.

I have this infrequent-ish talent for putting a blade back in, locking down the lever cap, and puzzling at it for a bit until I realise I trapped the adjuster off-centre and the top of the blade is sitting up awkwardly. Moving the lateral adjuster, if it will move, produces a "snap" when the blade slot drops back over the round end.

Ahem.

Paul.